Zambia’s Election Looms as President Hichilema Confronts Rising Opposition

Five years ago, Hakainde Hichilema assumed the presidency after ousting an incumbent accused of violent repression and electoral fraud.

He was seen as a symbol of democratic progress in Africa, promising freedom and economic reforms to advance Zambia’s copper‑rich economy.

Now, at age 64, as he seeks re‑election on Thursday, President Hichilema is confronted with accusations of violence and repression in his bid to retain power.

His main challenger, Brian Mundubile, along with civil‑society groups, has accused the police and members of the ruling party of a crackdown, including an incident where Mundubile was hurried away from a rally after police used tear gas.

They allege that the government creates administrative obstacles for opposition parties to register and misuses state resources to influence voters.

During his tenure, his administration has enacted legislation that activists claim penalizes public criticism, curtails press freedom, and seeks to tilt Parliament in his favor.

“A great deal has occurred over the past five years, moving toward the consolidation of power and intolerance for dissent,” said Linda Kasonde, a human‑rights lawyer in Lusaka.

She warned that the nation risked becoming “some kind of authoritarian state.”

President Hichilema has denied the allegations and condemned political violence on social media, while his government suggested that some incidents may have been staged to cast him in a negative light.

“We have not at any time enacted laws that benefit only a few and disadvantage the rest of the country,” said Sikwindi Situla, spokesman for the United Party for National Development.

His campaign emphasizes the economic progress achieved under his leadership, noting debt restructuring that freed resources for social spending, reduced inflation, higher infrastructure investment, and growing interest in the mining sector.

According to an assessment by the Alliance for Accountability Advocates Zambia, his party has fulfilled slightly more than half of its campaign promises.

“We inherited a country in ruins,” Mr. Hichilema told the BBC, “and overall, we have delivered.”

The election arrives at a delicate diplomatic juncture. The former U.S. ambassador to Zambia recently sparked controversy by publicly accusing the government of corruption, prompting Zambian officials to retort that the United States was seeking access to the nation’s critical minerals in return for foreign aid.

Zambia is a leading global copper producer and also holds substantial lithium and cobalt reserves; the United States is seeking to expand its access to these minerals, which are currently dominated by Chinese firms.

Despite Mr. Hichilema’s economic reforms, many Zambians report ongoing hardship, a situation analysts say has tightened the electoral contest, even though Hichilema is still favored to win. Rising living costs, frequent power outages, and increasing poverty underscore the challenges.

Roadside vendor Norman Nguni in Lusaka says business has deteriorated so much that he can now afford only one meal a day for his family, down from three.

“My expectations for the economy remain unmet,” Nguni, 47, said, adding that he fears another term for Hichilema “would bring further economic hardships.”

Taxi driver Given Mubinta, 50, noted that jobs have become more readily available under Hichilema and that government assistance has benefited local communities.

“People are now being employed without corruption, and cash‑for‑work programs are reaching grandmothers and widows who truly need assistance,” he said.

When former President Edgar Lungu died last year, Zambian politics shifted. Lungu, a rival of Hichilema and a popular figure in the Patriotic Front, had been able to rally supporters.

Since Lungu’s death, his family has been locked in a bitter dispute with the Hichilema administration over his burial. While Hichilema seeks a state funeral and burial in Zambia, the family insists on a burial in South Africa, contending that Lungu did not want Hichilema involved.

The dispute remains unresolved in court, and 14 months after his death, Mr. Lungu has yet to be buried.

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